Tom Hessert; Ken Schrader Racing Carry Momentum Back To Pocono

Tom Hessert; Ken Schrader Racing Carry Momentum Back To Pocono

Topics: Tom Hessert, Pennsylvania ARCA 125

Tom Hessert; Ken Schrader Racing Carry Momentum Back To Pocono

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management
Ken Schrader Racing
August 3, 2011

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (August 3, 2011) - - On the strength of four consecutive top-eight finishes in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, Tom Hessert III returns to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway aimed at keeping his second-half of the 2011 season headed in the right direction in Saturday’s Pennsylvania ARCA 125.

Hessert, driver of the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala is no stranger to the track dabbed at the “Tricky Triangle.” Poised to make his eighth career start their and searching for his second-career win, Hessert knows that Saturday’s shootout may be as good as time as any.

“You cannot help but not like Pocono,” said Hessert, who has one top-five and three top-10 in his previous seven starts. “We had a pretty good run with our No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala in June, but we know we need to step up our game this weekend. The action will be just as competitive if not more, so it’s crucial to put ourselves in contention this weekend.”

While Hessert has found himself contending at the 2.5-mile triangle, the 13th race of the on season offers a shoot-out style contest. Serving as the finale after the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event, the stars and cars will have just 125 miles or 50 laps to get the job done. While Hessert dealt with this last August driving for Cunningham Motorsports, where he nestled a fourth place finish, he knows that once the action begins, there is no time to mess around.

“It’s literally a shootout,” added Hessert, a former USARacing Pro Cup Series star. “50 laps is short and even though it’s a big track, a lot can happen. Sometimes we can have some lengthy cautions there that really take away from the number of laps that we can run under green. There’s no doubt that we’re going to have to use some strategy, but that’s why I have one of the best in the business on top of the box.”

The man he is referring to is crew chief John Monsam. Making the move to Ken Schrader Racing (KSR), the duo has still proven that they have the bond that makes them contenders.

“Pocono will be my third race with John (Monsam), explained Hessert, a native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. “Even though we are working with a different manufacturer than we did last year, we still have a pretty good baseline on where we need to be. I’m confident that when we hit the pavement in practice on Friday afternoon, you’re going to see that No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala near the top.”

With the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series revving their engines early Saturday afternoon, Hessert realizes that the different tire compound could potentially play a difference in the early stages of the Pennsylvania ARCA 125, but he also knows that it really won’t be something he’ll really be thinking about.

“Any time you put a division on a racetrack with two different types of tires, you’re a little hesitant. In the scheme of things, I don’t think it’s really going to be that big of a deal, but it’s still pondering in the back of all our minds. If it does come into play, there won’t be anything we can do about it until we’re racing ourselves.”

Seven races remain in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule with Hessert currently tied for the sixth position in the championship standings with Tim George Jr. A mere 90 points separates Hessert from climbing into the top-five which currently locked by Chad McCumbee.

“We made some huge gains in the points last weekend,” sounded Hessert. “That’s important and that’s what we need to keep doing as the season begin slowly heads towards the checkered flag. There is no doubt in my mind that with luck, that our Federated Auto Parts Racing team will be somewhere in the top-five, we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing over the last month or so.”

In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars will serve as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 77th career ARCA start. In his previous 76 outings, he has maneuvered one win, 15 top-fives and 39 top-10s.

The Pennsylvania ARCA 125 (50 laps / 125 miles) is the 13th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 53rd ARCA race at Pocono Raceway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, August 5 with a one hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 1:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 5:40 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 6. The event will be televised live on SPEED beginning at 3:00 p.m. EST. Live timing and scoring throughout the 1,325th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.

For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com